Ridgs



(No Model.)

M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

RAILWAY RAIL JOINT FASTENING. No 345,421. Patented July 13, 188.6.

am: zllllll A jiIllljlllll Had/(5. a/cw, A /,(fM/wq UNITED STATES ATENTinucn.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY E.VVAITE, OF SAME PLACE.

RAlLWAY-RAlL-JOlNT FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,421, dated July 13,1886.

Application filed July 16, 1885. Serial No. 171,756. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. B. ETH- RIDGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Rail- Joint Fastenings; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in bolt-fastenings to be usedwith the fish-bars of railways, or for binding firmly together thevarious parts of other structures, the object being to provide afastening which cannot be loosened by the constant vibra tion ofthestructure, and which can yet be cheaply made and of such simpleconstruction as to be quickly and easily secured in place; and myinvention consists of a slotted bolt, a wedge-shaped washer, and atapering wedge-piece adapted to enter the slot of the bolt, all of whichare I so combined in such a manner as will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 isaperspective of a railjoint, the fish-bars and rails being securedtogether by my improved fastening. Fig. 2 is a section of a rail andfish-bars similarly provided with my improved bolt-fastening. Fig. 3 isa perspective of the wedge-shaped washer, and Fig. 4 is a view of thewedge-piece.

Like letters indicate like parts.

A represents a bolt, of ordinary construction, provided near one endwith a slot, b, extending lengthwise of the bolt any desired distance,as will be best seen by reference to Fig. 2, wherea portion of the bolthas been broken away to show the length of this slot.

D D represent fish bars situated in the usual manner, one on each sideofthe rail, and it will be seen that the said slot 1) is so situated as tohave its beginning in that part of the bolt within the fish-bar, whenceit may extend as far as desired in the direction of the end ofwedge-piece to be driven through the bolt far enough to securely bindthe wedge-shaped washer against the fishbar, and thus immovably securethe whole combination of parts together. I

B represents a washer formed of a wedging shape, as shown in Fig. 3 andin section in Fig. 1, and preferably constructed of circular form andhaving a circular aperture in the middle, which will correspond somewhatin size with the bolt upon which it is to be placed. 0 designates atapering wedge-piece made of iron, malleable or soft, or other suitablemetal, so that it may be driven into the slot against the washer, andthen, if desired, twisted or bent up at its end to secure it in place,as shown in Fig. 2.

In using this improved device for fastening bolts securely in positionthe bolt is first to be inserted through the fish-bars and rail or otherdevices which it is desired to fasten together. Then the washer isslipped over the outer end, and finally the wedge-piece O is driventhrough the slot and against the washer, which latter is made to bindfirmly against the fish-bar. Thus with awedgeshaped washer and awedging-piece such as I have described a tight, secure clamp can beeffected. Many advantages reside in the construction and use of thiswedge-shaped washer. It combines in one piece a washer and a wedge, andavoids the trouble and expense of having a multiplicity of parts, suchas is characteristic of some boltfastenings that have severalwedgingpieces in addition to a washer. It is easily made and readilymanipulated, and the clamp afforded thereby is durable, and is notweakened by constant jar, as in the case of bridges, or by intermittentjar, as in the case of railroads; and, further, it enables the fasteningto present a .neat appearance, for when the wedge has been driven intoposition its outside line will be parallel with the inside line of thewasher, and a neat and well-shaped fastening will be presented to view,which is free from the angularities of many fastenings now in use.

It will be understood that although I have described my bolt-fasteningin its application to railways, yet, however valuable it may be thebolt, the purpose being to make this slot in this one particularapplication, it is not inonly of suflicient size and length to enablethe tended to confine it to that use exclusively;

2. In a railway-rail-joint fastening, the combination, with thefish-bars D D, of a slotted 15 bolt, A, provided with wedge-shapedwasher B and wedge-piece O, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN W. TROWBRIDGE, CHAS. HALL ADAMS.

